NBA roundup: Iverson aiming for early return

Pistons guard and former Bethel High star Allen Iversonmight not miss the whole two weeks doctors have suggested he use to recover from a sore back.

Iverson returned to the team and attended practice Thursday after visiting doctors at Georgetown University in Washington. Coach Michael Currysaid Iverson — who averages 18 points but has missed the past three games with the back injury — was targeting an early return.

"He doesn't think that he's going to have to be out the entire two weeks," Curry said. "He wants to get out there as soon as possible. So, hopefully with the treatment and the rest, he'll feel better and we can get him out there as soon as possible. ... We need him healthy, out there healthy playing so we can be the team we envision ourselves being."

Iverson will come off the bench when he returns. He did not speak with reporters but instead issued a statement through the team.

"I'm disappointed that the soreness I'm feeling in my back is going to force me to miss two weeks of action," Iverson said in the statement. "After talking with the doctors at Georgetown yesterday, they have told me that treatment and rest is the best course of action right now. Hopefully my back will heal and I'll be ready to go following this two-week period."

Iverson also said he had no problem with returning as a reserve.

"My goal is to help this team win a championship and I've said that from the first day I arrived here in Detroit," he said in the statement. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to help us achieve our goals as a team regardless if I'm starting or coming off the bench."

ElsewhereChris Paul had 27 points and 15 assists, and host New Orleans increased its season-best winning streak to six with a 104-88 victory over Dallas. David West scored 19 and Rasual Butler added 18 for the Hornets. Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 27 points. ... Laughter flowed while friends and relatives toasted Johnny "Red" Kerrone more time. An overflow crowd spilled out of the main chapel at Hennessy-Bruno Funeral Home to remember Kerr, who died of prostate cancer last week at age 76. Kerr, a Chicago native who starred at Illinois, spent 12 seasons in the NBA for the Syracuse Nationals, Philadelphia 76ers and Baltimore Bullets. ... Forward Joe Smithsigned his contract and practiced as Cleveland prepared for its game tonight at Boston. ...Drew Goodenjoined the Spurs after buying out his contract earlier this week in Sacramento, where the Chicago Bulls traded the veteran power forward last month. ... The Houston Rockets will play the Boston Celtics in a preseason game next October near the Texas-Mexico border. ... Trespassing charges against New Jersey forward Sean Williams have been dropped after Boston College coach Al Skinner intervened. Williams, a former BC player, was arrested by campus police after arriving to see the Eagles play Duke on Feb. 15. Williams had been served with a permanent no-trespassing order in May. ... New York Knicks center Eddy Curry, who is being sued for sexual harassment by a man who worked as his driver, filed a countersuit claiming the man and his lawyers spread details of confidential settlement discussions. Curry seeks more than $50,000 in damages from Dave Kuchinsky, his lawyers Leslie Levine and Matthew Blit, and their New York-based firm, Levine and Blit.

Daily press Thursday's highlight Chris Paul has 27 points and 15 assists to lead the Hornets past Dallas.
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